Mathematica for Students > Lesson 1

Lesson 1

Lesson 1: Getting Started
 
 
1. (1 pts)

 

How to Get Mathematica

Mathematica is a computer algebra system (CAS for short) often used in science, engineering, mathematics and computing. It was first developed in the 1980's by Stephen Wolfram, who founded the company Wolfram Research, Inc. 

Wolfram Research Inc. provides a desktop version of Mathematica that can be downloaded and installed on a computer, as well as a cloud-based subscription known as Wolfram Cloud. We will use Wolfram Cloud. Seattle Central College has a license with Wolfram Reasearch to provide Mathematica free for all students. Click the links below to see how to get your free subscription:

1. You will need to use your school email address (@seattlecolleges.edu) to get Mathematica. Every student automatically gets a school email address. If you do not know yours...

🔗 Link: How to access your school email address (@seattlecolleges.edu)

2. If you already know your school email address, click the link below to see how to get your free subscription to Mathematica, using Wolfram Cloud...

🔗 PDF File: How to get a free subscription for Wolfram Cloud with school email address (updated Oct 2022)

3. You can also watch a video showing what to do:

🎦 Video: How to get a free subscription for Wolfram Cloud [+]

Note: this video uses a non-school email address. You will need your school email address.

 

🔍 If You Are Having Trouble...

If you are having trouble getting access to Mathematica, there is help available. Here are some options...

  • Contact Wolfram's customer service at 1-800-WOLFRAM (1-800-965-3726).
  • Go to Wolfram Customer Support. There should be a pop-up that says "Chat With Us", and you can chat live with a customer support person
  • Contact Seattle Central's Tech support at [email protected]

Tell them you are a student at Seattle Central College, which has a site license with Wolfram for free Mathematica subscription using Wolfram Cloud.

 

❓ Question

Did you get access to Mathematica?

 

  1. __
  2. __

 

2. (1 pts)

 

Now That You Have Mathematica... Now What?

Congratulations on getting access to Mathematica! Now it's time to start exploring to see what it can do. To get started, watch the video below...

🎦 Video: I have a Wolfram Account ... Now What? [+]

Try a few calculations, such as 2+2. Then do the "Learn by Doing" below and answer the question that follows



💡 Learn By Doing

Step 1:The video you just watched (see link above) showed how to open a notebook at www.wolframcloud.com. Go back to that notebook (or start a new one)

Step 2: On your Mathematica page, we are going to calculate sin(pi/3) to 20 digits. Start by entering the following...

Sin[Pi/3]

Then press shift enter

Note that all built-in functions (in this case Sin), constants (in this case Pi), and commands must start with a capital letter. Mathematica is case sensitive!

Step 3: Notice that the output is sqrt(3)/2. Mathematica gives the exact answer by default. If you want a decimal approximation, use the N command...

N[Sin[Pi/3]]

Then press shift enter

Note that there should be 2 sets of brackets: one for the Pi/3 and one for the entire expression.

Step 4:If you want 20 digits, then enter the following...

N[Sin[Pi/3],20]

Then press shift enter






❓ Question

Hint 1 Hint 2

According to Mathematica, what is the 20th digit of sin(pi/3)?

__________________

3. (1 pts)

Let's calculate sqrt(pi)



💡 Learn By Doing



Step 1: On the same Mathematica page, to find the the square root of pi, you can type the following...

Sqrt[Pi] 


Then press shift enter

These expressions are case-sensitive! Be sure to capitalize both Sqrt and Pi.

The output should be sqrt(pi). Whenever possible, Mathematica tries to give the exact answer. In this case, however, it's not too helpful!

Step 2: Just like before, to get a decimal approximation, use N. Let's get 20 digits.

N[Sqrt[Pi],20] 


Then press shift enter

Question



❓ Question

Hint 1 Hint 2

What is the 20th digit of the square root of 'pi'?

__________________

+++++++++++++++

Lesson 1: Getting Started
 
 
1. (1 pts)

 

How to Get Mathematica

Mathematica is a computer algebra system (CAS for short) often used in science, engineering, mathematics and computing. It was first developed in the 1980's by Stephen Wolfram, who founded the company Wolfram Research, Inc. 

Wolfram Research Inc. provides a desktop version of Mathematica that can be downloaded and installed on a computer, as well as a cloud-based subscription known as Wolfram Cloud. We will use Wolfram Cloud. Seattle Central College has a license with Wolfram Reasearch to provide Mathematica free for all students. Click the links below to see how to get your free subscription:

1. You will need to use your school email address (@seattlecolleges.edu) to get Mathematica. Every student automatically gets a school email address. If you do not know yours...

🔗 Link: How to access your school email address (@seattlecolleges.edu)

2. If you already know your school email address, click the link below to see how to get your free subscription to Mathematica, using Wolfram Cloud...

🔗 PDF File: How to get a free subscription for Wolfram Cloud with school email address (updated Oct 2022)

3. You can also watch a video showing what to do:

🎦 Video: How to get a free subscription for Wolfram Cloud [+]

Note: this video uses a non-school email address. You will need your school email address.

 

🔍 If You Are Having Trouble...

If you are having trouble getting access to Mathematica, there is help available. Here are some options...

  • Contact Wolfram's customer service at 1-800-WOLFRAM (1-800-965-3726).
  • Go to Wolfram Customer Support. There should be a pop-up that says "Chat With Us", and you can chat live with a customer support person
  • Contact Seattle Central's Tech support at [email protected]

Tell them you are a student at Seattle Central College, which has a site license with Wolfram for free Mathematica subscription using Wolfram Cloud.

 

❓ Question

Did you get access to Mathematica?

 

  1. __
  2. __

 

2. (1 pts)

 

Now That You Have Mathematica... Now What?

Congratulations on getting access to Mathematica! Now it's time to start exploring to see what it can do. To get started, watch the video below...

🎦 Video: I have a Wolfram Account ... Now What? [+]

Try a few calculations, such as 2+2. Then do the "Learn by Doing" below and answer the question that follows



💡 Learn By Doing

Step 1:The video you just watched (see link above) showed how to open a notebook at www.wolframcloud.com. Go back to that notebook (or start a new one)

Step 2: On your Mathematica page, we are going to calculate `sin(pi/3)` to 20 digits. Start by entering the following...

Sin[Pi/3]

Then press shift enter

Note that all built-in functions (in this case Sin), constants (in this case Pi), and commands must start with a capital letter. Mathematica is case sensitive!

Step 3: Notice that the output is `sqrt(3)/2`. Mathematica gives the exact answer by default. If you want a decimal approximation, use the N command...

N[Sin[Pi/3]]

Then press shift enter

Note that there should be 2 sets of brackets: one for the Pi/3 and one for the entire expression.

Step 4:If you want 20 digits, then enter the following...

N[Sin[Pi/3],20]

Then press shift enter






❓ Question

Hint 1 Hint 2

According to Mathematica, what is the 20th digit of `sin(pi/3)`?

__________________

3. (1 pts)

Let's calculate `sqrt(pi)`



💡 Learn By Doing



Step 1: On the same Mathematica page, to find the the square root of `pi`, you can type the following...

Sqrt[Pi] 


Then press shift enter

These expressions are case-sensitive! Be sure to capitalize both Sqrt and Pi.

The output should be `sqrt(pi)`. Whenever possible, Mathematica tries to give the exact answer. In this case, however, it's not too helpful!

Step 2: Just like before, to get a decimal approximation, use N. Let's get 20 digits.

N[Sqrt[Pi],20] 


Then press shift enter

Question



❓ Question

Hint 1 Hint 2

What is the 20th digit of the square root of 'pi'?

__________________

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